TOKYO — Toyota resumed car production at all of its plants in Japan on Monday for the first time since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami but said the factories will run at half capacity because of parts shortages.
The world’s No. 1 automaker said it was still struggling to secure about 150 types of auto parts. The magnitude-9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami destroyed parts factories in northeastern Japan, causing severe shortages of components.
The twin disasters forced Toyota to shut down output in Japan except at three plants, which have been running at limited capacity since late March and early April to produce hot-selling Prius, Lexus and Corolla cars.
The 900 workers at Toyota’s auto plant in Miyagi, one of the worst-hit areas in the disasters, observed a minute’s silence for tsunami victims before starting work Monday. The quake and tsunami left nearly 28,000 people dead or missing.
